Places to Keep a Fire Extinguisher

Places to Keep a Fire Extinguisher

THE MOST ESSENTIAL PLACES TO KEEP A FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN YOUR HOME

No one wants to think about the possibility of a fire in their home. Having your home burn down in a fire is a nightmare scenario that happens all too
frequently. When it comes to home fires, the best thing you can do is to have a plan and the proper equipment close by and ready for use. AA Fire Extinguisher can provide you with fire extinguishers and can annually inspect and certify them for you.

Putting out a fire quickly before it escalates is important both for personal safety and preventing property damage. The best way to respond quickly and control fires is to have a fire extinguisher within reach of the source. Time is of the essence in a fire emergency, and you don’t want to be running around the house in a panic looking for a fire extinguisher. With proper fire extinguisher placement, you will be prepared to act quickly in the case of a fire in your home.

Here are the best places to keep fire extinguisher in your home so that you can put out a fire quickly or at least prevent the rapid spread of fire:

The Kitchen

With 65% of all fires starting in the kitchen, this is the most important room to have a fire extinguisher in your home. Most kitchen fires involve grease
and can’t be put out with water. Grease fires have high flashpoints and burn extremely hot. A Class K extinguisher is necessary in your kitchen because it is designed specifically to put out fires fueled by vegetable or animal oils and fats.

Don’t keep the kitchen extinguisher next to the stove. You don’t want to have to reach through the flames to get the fire extinguisher. It should be
located about 30 feet away from the stove. If you have a small kitchen, this might mean you need to mount it in an adjacent room, as long as it’s easily
accessible from the kitchen.

One Fire Extinguisher On Each Floor

Every floor of your home needs at least one fire extinguisher. Mount it on the wall in a central location about 4 to 5 feet above the ground. Don’t hide
the fire extinguisher behind drapes or curtains and don’t store fire extinguishers in closets. They need to be in plain view or you will not be able to
find them when you need them.

Keeping extinguishers out in the open prevents them from getting covered with clutter. Safety is going to trump aesthetics in this case, but you can always
consider a fire extinguisher cabinet for a more concealed look. Make
sure everyone who lives in your home is aware of the locations of the fire extinguishers and how to use them.

The Garage and Workshop

If you have a garage or a workshop, then you probably use these spaces to store some flammable materials. Paints, oil, gasoline, solvents and other
chemicals are all extremely combustible. When working with tools in a workshop, you might generate sparks that could lead to a serious fire. Keeping a fire
extinguisher in this area is a must.

If you have recreational vehicles like campers, motorcycles, ATVs, or boats on your property, you will want to place a fire extinguisher near them as well.
They contain fuel and other flammable material that might start a fire in the right conditions.

The Laundry Room

Your dryer is another likely place for a fire to start. The lint that collects in your dryer is highly flammable and might catch fire when the dryer is in
operation due to high temperatures. Clean the lint trap after every load to reduce this possibility. The dryer exhaust tube may also fill with lint, be
sure to clean this out every six months. These practices will help prevent fires, but just in case, you will want a fire extinguisher in or near your
laundry room.

The Patio and Grill

Patios are ideal for enjoying the great outdoors. If you have a grill or a fire pit, then you will want to place a fire extinguisher nearby. Gas grills can
be especially dangerous because the propane fuel is explosive. If you grill over charcoal, the grease from cooking and the hot coals may cause a serious
fire. Decks and patios are great spots for a fun gathering, but you need to keep safety in mind as well.

The Bedrooms

Since most fires happen at night, you may want to keep a fire extinguisher in each bedroom. If there is a fire blocking your path out of the house, a fire
extinguisher can be very useful for escaping. This may seem like overkill, but it is better to be safe when it comes to fire in your home.

Sources of Heat

Fireplaces, chimneys, furnaces, and wood stoves are all obviously potential fire hazards. You should make sure you have a fire extinguisher close to these
places in your home. If you have a utility room or basement area with electrical panels and other appliances like your furnace or hot water heater, you
should keep a fire extinguisher there as well. The combination of electric circuits and hot appliances can lead to fires.

Keep Your Home Safe With Proper Fire Extinguisher Placement

If you can reach a fire extinguisher within 6 seconds of the start of a fire, then you can put out or control a fire in its early stages. This quick action
will not only prevent massive property damage, but it may save your life and the lives of your loved ones. Don’t wait until you need a fire extinguisher to think about this. Take a look at your home today and make sure you have these fire extinguishers in your home everywhere you need them.